Scott Wykoff's Blog

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Rawhide Roads In Maryland

I drive by cattle on my way into work every morning. Cows in suburban Maryland?

No I don't live in the country, I live in the suburbs. You know, one of those neighborhoods that's a part of the sprawl that former Governor Glendening used to always talk about. But I still cruise past cattle like those in the photo above and the video below.

TV Hill, where WBAL is located, is surrounded by a neighborhood of rowhouses. And to get there each day I cruise past cows. Only in Maryland?

And what's the deal with that donkey I see each day that keeps the cows company?

What would my wife's cousin think? He works a cattle ranch in Texas. Texas, I drive by cattle ranches everyday just a few miles outside of Baltimore City. I don't think he would believe me if I told him. He considers me a city slicker.

A little surfing on the web even turned up the Maryland Cattlemen's Association. Cattle ranchers Maryland-style from the likes of Mt. Airy, Woodbine, Havre de Grace, Sykesville and Parkton (to name a few).

In just a few weeks even Timonium will hosting some of the state's best cattle during the Maryland State Fair. Sure those cows I see along the road on my drive into work look plenty healthy, but you would never believe how great the cattle looks that's brought to the fairgrounds. The best of the best beef Maryland has to offer. That's a winner from the Maryland State Fair a few years ago in the photo below.

If you like what you can see, you can bid on the champion livestock at the fair. You just better make sure you have a good sized freezer in the garage (if you know what I mean). I have a friend who bought a champion a few years ago and enjoyed some great Maryland beef all year long.

Back to driving past those cattle ranches on my way in to work. Do you think any of those Maryland cattlemen who work those ranches would mind if I saddled up to help them bring in the herd? A little cattle drive Maryland-style. Rawhide!